Puppy mills: Kansas breeders rake in inspection violations

KDA shut down two facilities in 2013

Second Chance Animal Refuge Society in Auburn typically takes in dogs that can't be cared for by their owners, but owner/operator Maureen Cummins said they have occasionally received animals from "puppy mills," or pet breeding facilities that fail to provide proper maintenance and socialization for their animals.

With just 50 of 258 inspections in a year having at least one violation, failing a Kansas Department of Agriculture inspection for violating the Pet Animal Act takes a different level of negligence.

That is because the act has sensible, reasonable requirements, said Martha Gifford, owner of Awesome Bullies in Silver Lake.

“I don’t think it’s difficult at all,” she said. “It helps ensure people that they get a healthy puppy.”

Awesome Bullies had no violations or notes in its inspection on Jan. 1, 2012, and since has passed two others, Gifford said.

Breeders have had a bad rap for some time, thanks to the negative publicity of the breeders who focus on profit, she said.

“It makes me sad, and I feel bad for the animals,” she said. “They can’t tell you how they feel. You can only see.”

The ambiguity and minimal standards of Kansas’ Pet Animal Act allows both for the continuation of puppy mills and substandard enforcement, said Terry Humphrey, Kansas lobbyist for Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She and other animal welfare advocates are calling on an update to the current law, including a much clearer set of standards to benefit both the breeder and the inspectors.

“It relates to health and safety,” Humphrey said. “There should be no tolerance if the health, safety and welfare of an animal is at stake.”

Failed inspections

The inspection records from the KDA for licensed breeders in fiscal year 2013, which ended last June, show 39 facilities failed 48 inspections. CJOnline has a searchable database and interactive map of the violations from that year. Here are some of the findings:

■ March 1, 2013: J & C’s Kennel, Rosalia: “As I entered the facility, my immediate response was ‘You have a mouse problem.’ This, together with feces, urine and ‘dead’ was very prominent.”

The facility failed two inspections and had a total of 21 violations.

■ July 10, 2012: Peg Friedrichs, Herkimer: “The bassets have so many piles of feces in their pen I stopped counting at 60. One poodle, one Maltese, two Yorkies all need to be groomed. The poodle and Bichon are the worst with mats over 50 percent of their bodies. I can see that the metal below the water is orange and rusty. This is the only source of water for this dog. Steve states that he will get fresh water for the dog.”

The breeder failed one inspection with a total of 13 violations. No other inspections to this facility were included.

■ April 4, 2013: Twinkle Toes, Baxter Springs: “I could smell a strong odor of bleach. I asked (owner Rose Mallett) if she was at all aware of bleach burning the feet of dogs. She seemed unconcerned.”

Attempts to reach these facilities weren’t successful.

Legal actions

Twinkle Toes and the KDA in October reached a three-year consent agreement, KDA records show. Under it, Mallett had “significantly reduced” the number of animals at her facility and no longer operated as a retail breeder. The $2,000 fine levied against her was waived in lieu of the agreement.

A records request for legal actions and consent agreements reached in 2013 show the agency pursued legal action on six breeders.

One, Keith Ratzlaff, in Canton, was fined $1,500.

Two had their civil penalties reduced: Mars Kennels in Wilson from $1,500 to $100; and Iris Lane Kennel in Newton from $1,750 to $250. The remainder is being held in abeyance during a three-year consent agreement.

The last three had all of their fines waived for three years — Twinkles Toes, and two, Adeline Day in Osborne and Laura and William Coy in Independence, which were shut down and relinquished animals. The latter two initially were fined $2,000 and $5,000, respectively.

Each of these actions took place up to almost two years after the initial inspection.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of
civility. Posts and comments do not reflect the views of this site.
Posts and comments are automatically checked for inappropriate
language, but readers might find some comments offensive or
inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the
"Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

Again, thanks to CJ for pursuing and reporting on this atrocity; my continued hope is that this will inspire a series of articles that will bring this puppy mill nightmare wide open for the public's awareness and for the ultimate goal to cease puppy mills in Kansas and to pass strict laws for the protection of animals and to cause aggressive inspections followed with timely and meaningful enforcement.

I do not recall ever reading notations and/or reports of Kansas Department of Agriculture inspections under the Pet Animal Act. Another great job by CJ! This is the type of investigative reporting that truly makes a difference especially on worthy issues such as this. It is unthinkable that the above notations which so vividly describe despicable conditions of the horrors of neglect of helpless innocent dogs were not met with swift and direct actions to remove these dogs and render them immediate medical care.

There are professional breeders who are responsible and loving breeders; however, they are few compared to the puppy mill industry that is so prolific in this state. Any breeders who oppose stiffer laws should be looked at with scrutiny as their position enables the abuse of the very dogs they profess to love as well as breed.

With all the homeless and abandoned dogs that exist who are in need of loving homes, it might be well served to support adoption and to outlaw puppy mills from operating altogether in the state of Kansas. When puppies can no longer be bought from breeders, then there is no reason for inspections, only for monitoring violators, closing them down and jailing them.

Kansas is one of the most lenient and lax states in the area of animal protection and one of the most prolific state in the numbers of puppy mills. Why? Because we do not have strict animal protection laws and because the laws that do exist are rarely enforced. The public must demand harsh laws and must get involved in reporting abuses of animals wherever they exist and following up to assure action is taken in a very timely fashion.

Can't believe our Governor would want to continue these "burdensome regulations" on dog breeders, while he doesn't want to accept the Federal regulations to protect our dwindling number of lesser prairie chickens. I ssume most of these are small business, so I guess he did save them some money on income taxes.

Kansas ranks third in the nation behind Ohio and Missouri for the number of puppy mills. One reason we have this horrible honor is because of the lack of enforcement actions taken by our State. If you have ever seen a puppy mill, you could not possibly ignore this situation. They are just unconscionably evil, cruel places. I work with animal rescue. One of the rescued dogs I am now fostering was born in a puppy mill. His front legs are deformed because, according to the vet, he lived in a wire bottomed, crowded cage when his little legs were developing. They will never improve. To help put an end to these terrible conditions, never buy from breeding facilities, puppy mills or pet stores. Yes, pet stores... almost all of their dogs come from brokers who sell for puppy mills or from the puppy mills directly. The Humane Society and many local rescue groups have lots of wonderful, loveable pets available for adoption. And, most of those furry friends haven't been damaged by inbreeding, neglect, malnutrition, etc.

If you want to purchase a pure bred pet insist on visiting the actual breeding facility. Middle men and/or meeting at a 'more convenient' location allows violators to hide the deplorable conditions that would horrify most people.